Method and apparatus for gathering webs of paper

ABSTRACT

A method and machine for gathering together in superposed and in exact timed relationship a plurality of webs of paper from independent rolls of paper. The webs on the rolls have a prepunched row of regularly spaced holes extending longitudinally and along at least one edge thereof. Each web is pulled from a roll and is guided to a lower moving endless belt having pins thereon which enter certain of the holes in the web from the under side thereof and pull it into a horizontal position. Each web is passed from one such belt to another to gather the webs into superposed relationship. Eqch web has a slack portion in the form of a festoon therein after it is pulled from a roll, and each web has a frictional restraint at the end of the festoon to maintain the web in taut condition as it approaches a lower belt. There may be an upper moving belt which has pins thereon which enter holes in the webs, from the upper side thereof, and said upper belt extends beyond all of the lower belts and maintains control of the webs continuously while they are moving over the spaced lower belts and also while they are moving between the spaced lower belts. The upper belt may partially overlap another moving lower belt having pins thereon which enter holes in the webs other than those occupied by the pins on the upper belt. The last mentioned lower belt controls the movement of the webs while operations are being performed thereon and discharges them from the machine. The method enables rolls to be prepunched and stored indefinitely under different climatic conditions then selected for use in any number of multi-part forms and gathered together into exact lengths. Additionally, the method permits relatively heavy rolls of paper to be mounted near the floor level and at one end of the machine for convenience and alacrity in handling and replenishment.

United States Patent Fulk [ May 14, 1974 METHOD AND APPARATUS FOR GATHERING WEBS OF PAPER [76] Inventor: James B. Fulk, 14668 Wildberry Ln., Saratoga, Calif. 95070 22 Filed: Jan. 2, 1973 21 Appl. No.: 320,663

Primary ExaminerM. Henson Wood, Jr. Assistant ExaminerGene A. Church Attorney, Agent, or Firm-Team, Teare & Sammon [57] ABSTRACT A method and machine for gathering together in superposed and inexact timed relationship a plurality of webs of paper from independent rolls of paper. The webs on the rolls have a prepunched row of regularly spaced holes extending longitudinally and along at least one edge thereof. Each web is pulled from a roll and is guided to a lower moving endless belt having pins thereon which enter certain of the holes in the web from the under side thereof and pull it into a hori- Zontal position. Each web is passed from one such belt to another to gather the webs into superposed relationship. Eqch web has a slack portion in the form of a festoon therein after it is pulled from a roll, and each web has a frictional restraint at the end of the festoon to maintain the web in taut condition as it approaches a lower belt. There may be an upper moving belt which has pins thereon which enter holes in the webs, from the upper side thereof, and said upper belt extends beyond all of the lower belts and maintains control of the webs continuously while they are moving over'the spaced lower belts and also while they are moving between the spaced lower belts. The upper belt may partially .overlap another moving lower belt having pins thereon which enter holes in the webs other than those occupied by the pins on the upper belt. The last mentioned lower belt controls the movement of the webs while operations are being performed thereon and discharges them from the ma chine. The method enables rolls to be prepunched and stored indefinitely under different climatic conditions then selected for use in any number of multi-part forms and-gathered-together into exact lengths. Additionally, the method permits relatively heavy rolls of paper to be mounted near the floor level and at one end of the machine for convenience and alacrity in handling and replenishment.

18 Claims, 9 Drawing Figures j /'C 6 L i6 PATENTEDIM 14 m4 SHEET Z (If 2 BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION Business forms which are manufactured from long continuous webs of paper vary in the number of parts to a form and in the weight and color of paper desired. Such webs are usually prepunched with a row of holes extending longitudinally and along at least one edge thereof, and such holes are used subsequently for gathering the webs together. The rolls are prepared individually and at different times and under different climatic conditions and then are stored for future use. At the time of preparing a web, however, the atmosphere may be laden with moisture which dries out during the period of storage with the result that the paper shrinks, thereby shortening the lengths of the form by changing the distance between the prepunched holes. Such change interferes with the subsequent act of tathering the webs together which is performed on a machine which is different from that on which the webs were prepared.

One effort has been made to overcome the foregoing difficulty by dropping the webs onto a pinned belt from a relatively loose web coming off a roll which is suspended above the pinned belt. One objection is the necessity for supporting the relatively heavy rolls above the belt, and another is the length of the machine required to support the rolls in such location. Moreover, the effort to gather the webs together by dropping them onto a pinned belt has been a relatively slow operation, whereas it is desired to gather the webs together at high speed and yet to maintain exactness in the lengths of the material. I

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION The method and apparatus of the present invention enables the rolls of paper to be supported near ground level and back of the machine without extending the frame of the machine to support them above the plane of the gathered webs. Additionally, the webs are gathered together in a taut condition while still allowing a slack web, in festoon form, between the rolls and pinned belts which are used to enter the holes in the webs and to pull them into superimposed relationship at a relatively high rate of speed. This is accomplished by engaging holes in the belts from the underside with one set of endless pinned belts, and if desired, simultaneously engaging the webs on the upper side by pins which project from an upper belt, the latter of which engages holes other than those engaged by the first mentioned or lower belts. The upper belt maintains contact with the webs while they are engaged by the respective lower belt and while they are passing from one lower belt to the next lower belt in succession. The upper belt projects beyond the last lower belt in the set and overlaps a portion of a succeeding lpwer belt having pins which engage holes in the webs other than those engaged by the upper belt. The last mentioned lower belt controls the webs while work operations are being performed thereon and then discharges them to any suitable folding or delivery mechanism. Thus, the combined action of the respective belts maintains exact lengths at a relatively high rate of speed. Such result, can be accomplished on a shorter machine, thereby shortening the distance necessary to carry the gathered webs, the latter of which has been the primary cause of trouble with webs of varying lengths.

I BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS FIG. 1 is a side elevation of a portion of a machine having the front cover plate removed to illustrate the use of the present invention;

FIG. 1A is a side elevation also with the front plate removed to illustrate a continuation of the machine shown in FIG. 1. The portion shown in FIG. 1A is part of the left handed portion of the machine shown in FIG. 1. The illustration of the machine is broken down into two figures because of the length of the machine;

FIG. 2 is a side elevation (with the front cover plate removed) of a portion of the machine shown in FIG. 1 but on the scale larger than that of FIG. 1;

FIG. 3 is a top plan view of a portion of the machine shown in FIG. 1;

FIG. 4 is a side view of a portion of the mechanism shown in FIG. 2 but on a scale larger than that of FIG. 2;

FIG. 5 is a section taken on a line 5-5 in FIG. 4;

FIG. 6 is a top plan view of a portion of the upper pinned belt as viewed on the line'66 of FIG. 4;

FIG. 7 is a section taken on a plane indicated by the line 7-7 in FIG. 4, and

FIG. 8 is a section taken on a line 88 in FIG. 3.

DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT The present invention is intended for bringing together in exact timed relationship a plurality of webs of plane indicated by the plane indicated by the -paper which are withdrawn from rolls of paper at one end of the machine. The rolls have been pre-punched, with a row of regularly spaced holes along at least one edge thereof, on machines different from that which forms the present invention, and the rolls are usually stored for subsequent future selection in accordance with the requirements of a customer for multiple part forms as to color, size and weight. Such rolls have been prepared not only on different machines but also under different conditions of humidity in the room on which the operation has been performed. Thus, if a roll is prepunched under conditions of high humidity and then wound onto a storage roll, the paper tends to shrink while drying out on the roll thereby altering the distance between the punched holes. The shrinkage may be only slight as between individual holes, but it is cummulative and has a tendency to interfere with the maintenance of exact lengths as the webs are gathered together in superimposed relationship to make the multiple part forms.

The machine which is illustrated somewhat diagrammatically in FIGS. 1 and 1A has a base 10 which supports at the right hand end as viewed in FIG. 1, a standard 11 on which the rolls of paper and transfer mate rial such as carbon, are journalled. For purpose of illustration, in FIG. 1, l to 4 designate pre-punched paper webs which are withdrawn from rolls 1A to 4A respectively, while 5, 6 and 7 designate webs of transfer material which are withdrawn from rolls 1-C, 2-C and 3-C respectively and intended to be interleaved between the paper webs. It is to be understood that any number of rolls of paper and carbon may be utilized in carrying out the operation of the present invention, but that only a few have been shown for the purpose of illustration. The present invention allows the rolls to be journalled at a relatively low height which is convenient for handling and replacement purposes.

The base also supports a gathering machine 12 (FIG. 1A) and a work performing machine 13 (FIG. 1A). It is to be understood that as the webs leave the rolls and pass through the gathering machine 12, they are carried into the work performing machine 13 and then discharged to a delivery mechanism where the forms may be cut into suitable size or fanfolded as desired.

In FIG. 1 each paper web is withdrawn from its supply roll by an unwind mechanism, indicated in general at 20, and each carbon web is withdrawn from its supply roll by an unwind mechanism indicated in general at 21. From the unwind mechanism each web falls in a festoon, as indicated at 23, for the paper webs and at 24 for the carbon webs. Such festoons form a slack web which functions to enable the respective webs to be moved into the gathering mechanism without putting a direct strain upon the supply rolls. To maintain each festoon at the optimum size a controller in the form of an electric eye, indicated at 25 in FIG. 2, operates to vary the unwind mechanism 20 so as to maintain the festoon within optimum limits of operation. Similarly an electric eye controller, indicated at 26, controls the unwind mechanism 21 for each carbon web so as to maintain its festoon within optimum limits for satisfactory operation.

The gathering operation is performed by causing outwardly extending pins on a belt to enter the prepunched holes in the web from the underside of the web. In FIG. 2 a plurality of such belts, each of which is indicated in general at 30, are spaced apart in tandem relationship and in longitudinal alignment, so that each web is passed from one belt across an intervening space to the next lower belt, whereby the respective webs are gathered together in superposed relationship. Where carbon webs are utilized, they are interleaved with the paper webs, as shown in FIG. 2.

Although slack webs are utilized afterthe webs are withdrawn from the respective supply rolls, the invention provides for holding each web in a taut position, as it approaches a lower belt and is propelled thereby upon engagement of the pins in the prepunched holes in the web. One form of device for maintaining a web in taut condition is to cause the web to make an S turn around two stationary bars ill and 32 in FIG. 2. Such arrangement imparts sufiicient resistance to the web movement to keep it taut at the desired location.

Each lower belt 30 operates to pick up a web of paper and to pull it into position where it can be gathered together with other webs. To accomplish this purpose, each belt 30 has an inclined approach reach 35 and a horizontal contactreach 36, and all of the horizontal reaches of the respective belts 30 are in alignment and in substantially the same plane. The inclinas qt he q insstrsasli isab to th Ys as shown in FIG. 2. Additionally, each web approaches the inclined reach of its associated lower belt at an angle of about 3 to 5, as a result of which the pins on the inclined reach gradually enter the holes on a web as the web travels upwardly. The web is then fully en- I gaged by the pins at the top of the inclined reach.

As shown in FIGS, 4, 5 and 7, each lower belt may include an endless chain which engages sprockets 41, 42 and 43 respectively which are journalled for rotation between a back plate 44 (HO. 5) and a front plate 45 and at least one of which is connected to a driving source (not shown). Each belt may also be provided with a take-up sprocket 46 so as to maintain the desired degree of tension upon the chain.

The pins on each lower belt which engage the prepunched holes in the paper. webs are shown in FIGS. 5 and TM 50 as being mounted upon a bracket 5], the latter of which is fastened to a chain at 52. The prepunched holes in a paper web into which the pins 50 project extend along one longitudinal edge of the web. As shown in FIGS of platens 52 carried by the front plate 45, extend laterally therefrom to support the paper web as it is being moved through the machine.

The present invention may be carried out for gathering webs together solely by use of the lower pinned belts but, if desired, the webs may also be engaged by an upper pinned belt 55 which, as shown in FIGS. 1 and 1A, is mounted for rotation above the webs and has outwardly projecting pins 56 which are adapted to engage the webs from the topside thereof. The upper belt cooperates with the lower belts to move the webs progressively from one lower belt to another and thence into the work performing section 13 where they are picked up by an elongated separate pinned belt, indicated in general at 60. Preferably, the upper belt extends beyond the tirst lower belt at the inlet end of the section 12 and overlaps the pinned belt 60 on the section 13 (FIG. 1A). As shown in FIG. 6, the upper belt 55 has openings 61 extending therethrough and in alignment with the pins 56 for receiving the pins on the lower belt, whereby both belts cooperate to retain the webs in effective traveling position. It is to be understood that the upper belt is driven at the same rate as the other belts and in timed relationship therewith.

After the webs are transferred to the remote or separate lower belt 60 on the work performing section 13, they are progressively subjected to well-known operations such as a file hole punch 65, a numbering unit 66, a trim unit 67 and/or other well known work units, after which the forms may be cut off delivered and stacked by mechanism indicated in general at 70. If desired, certain of the webs may be fastened together by a strip of adhesive which can be applied, as at in FIG. 2, as the webs move between adjacent lower belts. To permit easier threading of the webs on starting the machine, provision may be made for raising and lowering the upper belt 55.

The method and apparatus embodying the present invention is advantageous in that no exact line-up is required between the supply rolls and the gathering machine, because the free loop or slack web compensates for any inaccuracy in the line-up.

Thus, the holes in the webs coact with the pinned belts to line up the webs and guide them without the need for side guiding mechanism. Additionally, the alignment is maintained irrespective of any variation in the width of the supply rolls, and any variation in the relationship of the holes to the margin of the webs. This enables the webs to travel at high speeds and to remain on the pinned belt during the gathering operation.

A further important advantage of the present invention is that webs which are longer than the overall reach of the total combining distance to be gathered may be brought together accurately with webs which are the exact length of the combined reach. ln practice, the hole spacing in the webs is one-half inch, and the pin spacing on the lower belts is 1 inch, wherefore the pins on the lower belts engage every other hole in the webs. Where the upper belt is used, the pins engage I those holes which are not engaged by the pins on the lower belt, and thus operate to carry the webs across the space between adjacent lower belts. To prevent the webs from dropping off the pins of the upper belt, it is desirable to make the spacing of the pins on the lower belts in even inches and to make the spacing of the pins on the upper belt slightly less than even inches." Thus, the pins on the upper belt have sufficient frictional engagement with the holes in the webs to retain them in flat condition as they move from one lowerbelt to another through the machine. In this connection, the word taut as used herein does not signify great tension on the webs but, instead, signifies that the webs are smooth and are laying flat while being gathered. The net result is that the Webs can travel at high speeds and remain in perfect alignment.

1 claim:

1. A method of gathering together in superimposed and timed relationship a plurality of webs of paper from independent rolls of paper, wherein each web has a row of holes extending along at least one edge thereof comprising:

supporting the rolls near floor level at one end of the machine, pulling the webs off the respective rolls, moving the respective webs into the proximity of spaced lower belts, each having spaced pins thereon and each having a horizontal web supporting reach and an inclined approach reach,

causing the pins of the inclined approach reach on each of said lower belts to enter gradually some of the holes in a web of paper and from the underside of said web,

moving the webs into superimposed progressive relationship in substantially a common plane, and moving all of said belts in timed relationship. 2. A method according to claim 1 comprising causing each web to move in the form of a festoon after it is pulled from its supply roll and before it contacts the pins on one of said lower belts and maintaining a constant drag on each web between its festoon and an adjacent lower belt, whereby each web is in a taut condition as it approaches the pins on said lower belt.

3. A method according to claim 2 comprising:

causing each web to approach said inclined portion of said belt at an acute angle to that of the belt inclination, whereby the pins gradually enter the holes in the web as the web moves upwardly toward said common plane.

4. A method according to claim 1 comprising:

causing the webs to be engaged by pins which project from an upper belt which extends beyond the first and last of said spaced lower belts and which engages the webs from the upper side thereof, and causing the pins on the upper belt to enter holes in the webs other than those engaged by the pins on the spaced lower belts, whereby the webs, as they move in said common plane, are controlled at spaced locations by the pins on the lower belts, and

are controlled continuously by the pins on the upper belt.

5. A method according to claim 4 comprising,

spacing the holes in the webs at regular intervals,

engaging every other hole in the webs by the pins on the lower belt, and

moving the pins on the upper belt into the holes of the webs which are between those engaged by the pins on the lower belt.

6. A method according to claim 4 comprising:

maintaining the pins on the upper belt within the web holes beyond the last of said spaced lower belts and in overlappping relationship to a separate lower belt having pins thereon, which engage holes in the webs other than those engaged by the pins on the upper belt, whereby control of the webs by said upper belt is transferred solely to said separate lower belt, and

moving said separate lower belt in exact timed relationship to all of the other belts.

7. A method according to claim 6 comprising:

performing operations upon the webs while moving them solely under the control of said separate lower pinned belt.

8. A method according to claim 1 comprising, spacing the holes in the webs at regular intervals, and engaging every other hole with the pins on the lower belts.

9. A method of gathering together in superposed and m timed relationship a plurality of webs of paper from independent rolls of paper, wherein each web has a row of holes extending along at least one edge thereof comprising,

pulling the respective webs from their rolls individually by causing pins on individual moving belts to enter certain of the spaced holes in the respective webs and from the under side thereof causing pins on an upper moving belt to enter other holes in the Webs from the upper side thereof, maintaining control of the webs by the pins on the upper belt until after all of the webs have been gathered into superposed relationship, and moving all of said belts in exact timed relationship.

10. A method according to claim 9 comprising:

moving the webs by the pins on said upper belt into overlapping position with a separate pinned lower belt,

causing the pins on said separate lower belt to enter holes in the webs other than those engaged by the pins on said upper belt, whereby control of the webs passes from the upper belt to said separate lower belt, and

moving said separate lower belt in exact timed relationship to all of the other belts.

l 1. In a machine for gathering together in superposed and timed relationship a plurality of webs of paper from independent rolls of paper, wherein each web has a row of holes extending along at least one edge thereof comprising:

a frame,

spaced lower belts carried by the frame,

each of said belts having pins projecting therefrom at regularly spaced intervals for engaging certain of the holes in a web and each having a horizontal web supporting reach and an inclined approach reach,

means for supporting supply rolls of said webs in spaced relationship adjacent one end of the frame,

means carried by the frame for pulling each web from a supply roll,

means for supporting each web in the form of a festoon so as to provide a slack web in advance of contact between each web and a lower belt,

means for guiding each web onto an inclined reach of a lower belt and causing pins on the inclined reach of each belt to engage certain of the holes in a web as the web leaves its festoon,

each web being pulled by the pins on a lower belt onto the horizontal reach of such belt, whereby the webs are progressively supported in superposed relationship in a substantially common plane, and

means for driving all of said belts in timed relationship.

l2. A machine according to claim 11 wherein,

an upper belt is carried by the frame and has pins thereon for engaging holes in the webs other than those engaged by the pins on the lower belts,

the upper belt being disposed above and being in registration with the lower belts and operating to maintain a driving contact between the pins thereon and the holes in the respective webs as the webs travel in contact with the lower belts and as the webs travel between the lower belts.

13. A machine according to claim 11 wherein,

means are provided for engaging each web at the end of the festoon thereof for imparting a frictional resistance to the web before it engages one of the lower belts,

said resistance means operating to maintain the webs in taut condition as the pins on a belt enter holes in the web.

14. A machine according to claim 12 wherein,

the upper belt extends beyond the discharge end of the last lower belt, and wherein another lower belt separate from the first mentioned lower beltsis positioned on the frame and has a portion thereof in underlapping engagement with a portion of said upper belt and has pins thereon adapted to enter holes other than those engaged by the pins on said upper belt, whereby the webs for a portion of their travel are simultaneously in contact with pins on said upper belt and with pins on said last mentioned separate belt, and

said separate belt operating to move and control the webs after the pins on the upper belt have been moved out of the holes in the webs.

15. A machine according to claim 11 wherein,

the inclined reach of each of the first mentioned lower belts is disposed at an angle of about 30 to the vertical, and wherein means are provided for guiding each web onto a lower belt at' an acute angle to said inclined reach, whereby the pins on said inclined reach gradually enter the holes in a web as the web approaches the horizontal reach of the belts.

16. A machine according to claim 15 wherein,

each web is guided onto the inclined reach of a lower belt at an angle of between about 3 to 5 with the inclined reach of such belt.

17. A method of gathering together in superimposed and timed relationship a plurality of webs of paper from independent rolls of paper, wherein each web has a row of holes extending along at least one edge thereof com prising:

supporting the rolls near floor level at one end of the machine, pulling the webs off the respective rolls, moving the respective webs into the proximity of spaced belts, each having spaced pins thereon, causing the pins on said belts to move the webs upwardly along an inclined approach plane, causing the webs to move along a horizontal plane where the webs are gathered together, causing the pins which move the webs upwardly along the inclined approach plane to enter some of the holes in the webs from the underside thereof,

moving the webs into superimposed progressive relationship in substantially a common plane, causing each web to move in the form of a festoon after it is'pulled from its supply roll and before it contacts the pins one one of said belts,

maintaining a constant drag on each web between its festoon and an adjacent belt, whereby each web is in taut condition as it approaches the pins on said belt, and

moving all of said belts in timed relationship.

18. In a machine for gathering together in superimposed and timed relationship a plurality of webs of paper from independent rolls of paper, wherein each web has a row of holes extending along at least one edge thereof comprising:

a frame,

spaced belts carried by the frame,

each of said belts having pins projecting therefrom at regularly spaced intervals for engaging certain of the holes in a web,

the pins on said belts operating to move the webs up wardly and along an inclined approach plane, means for supporting supply rolls of said webs in spaced relationship adjacent one end of the frame,

means carried by the frame for pulling each web from a supply roll,

means for supporting each web in the form of a festoon so as to provide a slack web in advance of contact between each web and a belt,

means for guiding each web onto a belt and causing pins on a belt to engage certin of the holes in a web as the web leaves its festoon,

the pins on each of said belts operating to pull the webs onto the belts,

means for progressively supporting the webs in superimposed relationship in a substantially common 55 plane after the webs leave said belts,

means on the frame for engaging each web at the end of the festoon thereof for imparting a frictional resistance to the web before it engages one of said belts,

said resistance means operating to maintain the webs in taut condition as the pins on a belt enter holes in the web, and

means for driving all of said belts in timed relationship. 

1. A method of gathering together in superimposed and timed relationship a plurality of webs of paper from independent rolls of paper, wherein each web has a row of holes extending along at least one edge thereof comprising: supporting the rolls near floor level at one end of the machine, pulling the webs off the respective rolls, moving the respective webs into the proximity of spaced lower belts, each having spaced pins thereon and each having a horizontal web supporting reach and an inclined approach reach, causing the pins of the inclined approach reach on each of said lower belts to enter gradually some of the holes in a web of paper and from the underside of said web, moving the webs into superimposed progressive relationship in substantially a common plane, and moving all of said belts in timed relationship.
 2. A method according to claim 1 comprising causing each web to move in the form of a festoon after it is pulled from its supply roll and before it contacts the pins on one of said lower belts and maintaining a constant drag on each web between its festoon and an adjacent lower belt, whereby each web is in a taut condition as it approaches the pins on said lower belt.
 3. A method according to claim 2 comprising: causing each web to approach said inclined portion of said belt at an acute angle to that of the belt inclination, whereby the pins gradually enter the holes in the web as the web moves upwardly toward said common plane.
 4. A method according to claim 1 comprising: causing the webs to be engaged by pins which project from an upper belt which extends beyond the first and last of said spaced lower belts and which engages the webs from the upper side thereof, and causing the pins on the upper belt to enter holes in the webs other than those engaged by the pins on the spaced lower belts, whereby the webs, as they move in said common plane, are controlled at spaced locations by the pins on the lower belts, and are controlled continuously by the pins on the upper belt.
 5. A method according to claim 4 comprising, spacing the holes in the webs at regular intervals, engaging every other hole in the webs by the pins on the lower belt, and moving the pins on the upper belt into the holes of the webs which are between those engaged by the pins on the lower belt.
 6. A method according to claim 4 comprising: maintaining the pins on the upper belt within the web holes beyond the last of said spaced lower belts and in overlappping relationship to a separate lower belt having pins thereon, which engage holes in the webs other than those engaged by the pins on the upper belt, whereby control of the webs by said upper belt is transferred solely to said separate lower belt, and moving said separate lower belt in exact timed relationship to all of the other belts.
 7. A method according to claim 6 comprising: perForming operations upon the webs while moving them solely under the control of said separate lower pinned belt.
 8. A method according to claim 1 comprising, spacing the holes in the webs at regular intervals, and engaging every other hole with the pins on the lower belts.
 9. A method of gathering together in superposed and in timed relationship a plurality of webs of paper from independent rolls of paper, wherein each web has a row of holes extending along at least one edge thereof comprising, pulling the respective webs from their rolls individually by causing pins on individual moving belts to enter certain of the spaced holes in the respective webs and from the under side thereof causing pins on an upper moving belt to enter other holes in the webs from the upper side thereof, maintaining control of the webs by the pins on the upper belt until after all of the webs have been gathered into superposed relationship, and moving all of said belts in exact timed relationship.
 10. A method according to claim 9 comprising: moving the webs by the pins on said upper belt into overlapping position with a separate pinned lower belt, causing the pins on said separate lower belt to enter holes in the webs other than those engaged by the pins on said upper belt, whereby control of the webs passes from the upper belt to said separate lower belt, and moving said separate lower belt in exact timed relationship to all of the other belts.
 11. In a machine for gathering together in superposed and timed relationship a plurality of webs of paper from independent rolls of paper, wherein each web has a row of holes extending along at least one edge thereof comprising: a frame, spaced lower belts carried by the frame, each of said belts having pins projecting therefrom at regularly spaced intervals for engaging certain of the holes in a web and each having a horizontal web supporting reach and an inclined approach reach, means for supporting supply rolls of said webs in spaced relationship adjacent one end of the frame, means carried by the frame for pulling each web from a supply roll, means for supporting each web in the form of a festoon so as to provide a slack web in advance of contact between each web and a lower belt, means for guiding each web onto an inclined reach of a lower belt and causing pins on the inclined reach of each belt to engage certain of the holes in a web as the web leaves its festoon, each web being pulled by the pins on a lower belt onto the horizontal reach of such belt, whereby the webs are progressively supported in superposed relationship in a substantially common plane, and means for driving all of said belts in timed relationship.
 12. A machine according to claim 11 wherein, an upper belt is carried by the frame and has pins thereon for engaging holes in the webs other than those engaged by the pins on the lower belts, the upper belt being disposed above and being in registration with the lower belts and operating to maintain a driving contact between the pins thereon and the holes in the respective webs as the webs travel in contact with the lower belts and as the webs travel between the lower belts.
 13. A machine according to claim 11 wherein, means are provided for engaging each web at the end of the festoon thereof for imparting a frictional resistance to the web before it engages one of the lower belts, said resistance means operating to maintain the webs in taut condition as the pins on a belt enter holes in the web.
 14. A machine according to claim 12 wherein, the upper belt extends beyond the discharge end of the last lower belt, and wherein another lower belt separate from the first mentioned lower belts is positioned on the frame and has a portion thereof in underlapping engagement with a portion of said upper belt and has pins thereon adapted to enter holes other than those engaged by the pins on said upper belt, whereby the weBs for a portion of their travel are simultaneously in contact with pins on said upper belt and with pins on said last mentioned separate belt, and said separate belt operating to move and control the webs after the pins on the upper belt have been moved out of the holes in the webs.
 15. A machine according to claim 11 wherein, the inclined reach of each of the first mentioned lower belts is disposed at an angle of about 30* to the vertical, and wherein means are provided for guiding each web onto a lower belt at an acute angle to said inclined reach, whereby the pins on said inclined reach gradually enter the holes in a web as the web approaches the horizontal reach of the belts.
 16. A machine according to claim 15 wherein, each web is guided onto the inclined reach of a lower belt at an angle of between about 3* to 5* with the inclined reach of such belt.
 17. A method of gathering together in superimposed and timed relationship a plurality of webs of paper from independent rolls of paper, wherein each web has a row of holes extending along at least one edge thereof comprising: supporting the rolls near floor level at one end of the machine, pulling the webs off the respective rolls, moving the respective webs into the proximity of spaced belts, each having spaced pins thereon, causing the pins on said belts to move the webs upwardly along an inclined approach plane, causing the webs to move along a horizontal plane where the webs are gathered together, causing the pins which move the webs upwardly along the inclined approach plane to enter some of the holes in the webs from the underside thereof, moving the webs into superimposed progressive relationship in substantially a common plane, causing each web to move in the form of a festoon after it is pulled from its supply roll and before it contacts the pins one one of said belts, maintaining a constant drag on each web between its festoon and an adjacent belt, whereby each web is in taut condition as it approaches the pins on said belt, and moving all of said belts in timed relationship.
 18. In a machine for gathering together in superimposed and timed relationship a plurality of webs of paper from independent rolls of paper, wherein each web has a row of holes extending along at least one edge thereof comprising: a frame, spaced belts carried by the frame, each of said belts having pins projecting therefrom at regularly spaced intervals for engaging certain of the holes in a web, the pins on said belts operating to move the webs upwardly and along an inclined approach plane, means for supporting supply rolls of said webs in spaced relationship adjacent one end of the frame, means carried by the frame for pulling each web from a supply roll, means for supporting each web in the form of a festoon so as to provide a slack web in advance of contact between each web and a belt, means for guiding each web onto a belt and causing pins on a belt to engage certin of the holes in a web as the web leaves its festoon, the pins on each of said belts operating to pull the webs onto the belts, means for progressively supporting the webs in superimposed relationship in a substantially common plane after the webs leave said belts, means on the frame for engaging each web at the end of the festoon thereof for imparting a frictional resistance to the web before it engages one of said belts, said resistance means operating to maintain the webs in taut condition as the pins on a belt enter holes in the web, and means for driving all of said belts in timed relationship. 